10. GIULIANNA

I wasn’t going to play along.

Not yet.

I didn’t care how soft the sheets on my bed now felt like beneath me. Or how the food on the tray still smelled freshly cooked as if made just moments ago. He could paint this like some weird twisted version of love but there’s only one thing how I see this room. A prison.

I sat at the small table near the window that obviously had bars. I haven’t touch the food he left me. It went cold now but still smells good. But the fact that I don’t know how many hours had I been here stopped me from touching it. My fingers stayed curled on my lap and my shoulders burned with tension.

I am worried about Sofia. My baby. I know she couldn’t handle being away from me for too long. She would always cry to Signora Rossa whenever I have to take an overtime at the bike shop.

What if she’s crying now? What if something happens to her heart? Those are the questions that bothered me and made the sting reached the back of my eyes.

I want to cry right now. But I can’t. I don’t wanna show Matteo any signs of weakness.

I pressed my nails into my thigh, grounding myself in pain. I have to stay strong and sharp on how I could outsmart him. There would be time to fall apart later when I finally escaped this place. When this nightmare was over.

The sound of the lock turning shattered the silence.

My breath caught in my throat.

This time, it was him.

Matteo walked inside the room with confident like he owned every breath I dared to take inside these walls. Of course he did. This eerie place felt just like him. Every corner of this room whispered dark and grand. As the shadows curved around him his eyes locked on mine while he stands there.

“You didn't touch your food.” He said after his gaze dropped on the food he left for me. “You need to take care of yourself, Giuli.”

I stood up and walked towards him. “Kidnapping me and then worrying about my nutrition?” I asked sarcastically to him. “That’s a new level of insanity.”

“I didn’t touch you if that's what you're worrying about.” He said as he stepped closer and closed the gap between us. “I could have. I wanted to. But I didn't out of respect for you."

That admission knocked the breath out of me. "Do you want me to, dolcezza? Because to be honest that 'respect' I'm referring to is starting to be out of the table." He asked as he towered me and lifted my chin more using his hand.

He grinned at me and I could sense right away that my future is in deep danger if I don't escape soon. “You think I brought you here because I’m done with you and want to kill you so I could have our child for myself? You are so wrong, baby. You said you don't want to give me any chances. But that's where you're wrong again. Because right now, I hold all the chances that could possibly go between us while you're here.”

I crossed my arms and furrowed at him. “A chance to do what, Matteo? Lock me in this eerie place and pretend this is some romantic getaway where you chase me and I fall into your arms?”

He didn’t blink. Didn’t move. “Maybe you're right or wrong, dolcezza. But either way, we have all the time in the world. You don't even have to worry about our little girl. She's safe." he said, almost coldly. “You know it's funny how you stopped being mine when you in fact breathe every single day for the last three years just to be in this place. All alone to be mine." I felt the chill run down my spine as he said that.

“You’re delusional.” I whispered as he leaned his face.

“Maybe I am not.” he shot back at me and grinned again “You think I don’t know you, Giuli? I know every inch of you. I know when you're scared. I know when you lie. And I know what your body says when your mouth tries to deny it.”

I hated the way my cheeks flushed. I should be ashamed right now for being so soaked just by being this close with him. “What do you want from me?” My voice cracked slightly, and I hated that too.

He didn’t hesitate to answer. “Everything.”

I took a step back only to realize it was the end of the bed. I felt chills as he brushed his hands down my shoulder. I thought of taking a step back again but I forgot I have nowhere to go, that led me into falling towards the bed. I trembled even as he went on top.

He caged me in his arms. “See how your body is trembling under my touch?” he whispered on my ears. And for fucks sake, a short quiet moan slipped from my mouth. “And very responsive.” He teased. His hands carefully brushed off a strand of air covering my collar bone and I slapped his hand right away.

“Do you wish to go further, Giuli?” he said with a voice low. God knows I wanted to give in. "You'll just have to ask." He said as he parted my legs with his knees. He pressed his knees on my core, probably feeling how soaked I am now.

There are a lot of words that wanted to explode out of my chest. "I think my form of question was wrong." I swallowed as his hands trevelled down from my stomach to my thighs. "Do you want to go deeper? Giuli?"

His hands find it's way underneath my night gown. He traced my undergarments' lace. I looked at him furiously. I wanted to stop him. I don't deserve this. He pulled away and stood up laughing. "I guess that's a no."

"You can't have something if you don't ask for it, dolcezza." He looked at me from head to toe. Drinking from my sight before turning his back. Probably leaving me again.

God. He left my p*ssy needy and soaked an hour ago. It doesn't change now. And I don't know how longer I could hold into not wanting to fuck him.